Dual chamber dispenser with dual position dispensing cap

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a multiple chamber dispenser with a dual position dispensing cap. The dispenser container has a circular top, a bottom, an outer wall structure and a plurality of chambers within the outer wall structure, e.g. two chambers. The dispenser container circular top has threading and has an upper stop and a lower stop located on an outside surface of the circular top. The chambers are separated by at least one divider wall that extents to the circular top of the dispense container. A cap is connected to the dispensing container and has at least one dispensing orifice, centrally located in preferred embodiments. The cap has a side wall structure with threading on its inside, and has a fist position, being a lower position on the dispenser container, and also being a closed position, and has a second position, being a higher position on the dispenser container, and also being an open position for dispensing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to dispensing, and, more particularly, todevices for simultaneous dispensing of plural, diverse flowablematerials from separate chambers. The present invention is a dispensercontainer with plural chambers that are separated, and a unique capthat, when closed, seals the separate chambers from one another, andseals a dispensing orifice that is located on the cap. These devices mayhave two or more than two chambers, and have diverse uses, including,among others, for pharmaceutical products, cosmetic and beauty aides,hair dyes, colorants and paints, teeth whiteners, etc.

2. Information Disclosure Statement

The following patents represent the state of the art relating to dueldispensing containers and caps:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,647 describes a multi-chamber bottle that can bemade by a blowing process for separately holding different products,requiring only a single closure. The bottle may, for example, have twochambers with openings which are disposed inside the neck of the bottle.One of the openings is disposed coaxially with the neck. This allows aclosure to be screwed or snapped onto the neck that is provided with athread or a snap bead. In the process, the attachment penetrates theopening in a sealing manner. This creates two channels, which lead fromthe chambers to the outlet openings. The outlet openings can be closedwith a cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,213 B1 describes a present invention that isdirected to a dual compartment, mixing and dispensing device suitablefor the containment of two separate pharmaceutical components thatmixable, upon breaking of a seal that separates the components, toprovide an instantly mixed dose of medication. The medication can beadministered to a patient through an aperture located at one end of thedevice. The device is characteriz4ed as two chambers connected by aflexible, sealed orifice, wherein the two components are separated.Flexing of the device at the orifice breaks the seal and allows mixingof the components to prepare the dose. Thereafter, an end-portion of thedevice can be opened for oral administration of the dose.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,571 B1 describes dual component container systemsthat are provided for separately storing at least two liquids, which areintermixed within the system prior to dispensing. Two or more containershaving mixing openings are provided wherein the mixing openings aresealed by sealing members. The sealed openings of the containers areinterconnected by one or more connecting elements, thereby forming asealed conduit interposed between containers and wherein at least one ofthe sealing members is connected to the connecting element by areleasable clamping joint. Systems of the present invention are designedsuch that relative movement of the two containers causes the sealingmembers to open or be removed, whereby fluids form the two or morecontainers may intermix via the open conduit formed by the connectingelement.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,316 describes a present invention that is an orificereducer for a two or more compartment container having a single neckfinish. The reducer comprises a plate having two or more apertures, anupper surface, a lower surface, and an outer edge. The two or moreapertures are positioned to align with the two or more chambers of thecontainer. The apertures may be of different sizes to allow for theproper dispensing of the different phases of product contained withineach compartment of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,494 describes a dispensing structure that isprovided for a container which has first and second storage chambers andfirst and second discharge openings each separately communicating withone of the first and second storage compartments, respectively. Thedispensing structure includes a body for extending from the container.The body has a peripheral wall that defines first and second dischargeconduits for communicating with the first and second discharge openings,respectively. The dispensing structure also includes a first and seconddispensing conduits mounted in the body peripheral wall for tiltingmovement between (1) a dispensing position in which the first and seconddispensing conduits are in fluid communication with the first and seconddischarge conduits, respectively, and (2) a non-dispensing position. Thefirst and second conduits include, respectively, first and secondsealing plugs therein for occluding flow from the first and seconddischarge conduits, respectively, when the first and second dispensingconduits are in the closed position and for permitting flow from thefirst and second discharge conduits when the first and second dispensingconduits are in the open position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,060 describes a new flask for two products, thatincludes a general flask body having a neck; a vessel housed inside theneck of the general flask body and having a weakened part; the neck ofthe flask body including a thread, and a flange at an upper part of theneck; a cap which screws onto an outside of the neck, the cap includinga thread which is complementary to the thread on the neck, a flangewhich is complementary to the flange on the neck, a wall defining ahole, and a vertical projection which emerges from an inside of the cap,in the form of a short cylinder with extremely short edges, the lengthof the cylindrical vertical projection facilitates cutting of theweakened part of the vessel, when the cap is screwed down; and a coverhinged to the cap and made from the same material as the cap, for fullysealing a top of the cap by pressure, the hinged cover of the cap havinga central projection at the lower part thereof corresponding to the holeand of similar dimensions as the hole in the cap, such that the hingedcover forms an airtight seal with the hole.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,725 describes a dual compartment squeezabledispensing container that alternatively selectively dispensesindependently tow separate fluid components at a selected speed and in aselected direction that includes a container portion, a cap portion, andselection apparatus. The container portion has two separate compartmentsand contains the two separate fluid components. The cap portion isreplaceably and securingly attached to the hollow container. And, theselection apparatus is associated with the cap portion and alternativelyselectively dispenses independently the two separate fluid components atthe selected speed and in the selected direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,786 describes a container that is divided intomultiple compartments by a series of vertically extending partitionsradiating from the central axis of the container. A nipple is attachedto a collar which in turn, is attachable to the mouth of the container.The nipple includes a base portion having an aperture radially offsetfrom the central axis of the nipple and which is adapted to registerwith only one of the compartments depending upon the relative angularorientation of the nipple and the collar. a series of L-shaped slots isprovided on the collar with the slots being evenly spaced about theperiphery of the collar and with the number thereof corresponding to thenumber of internal compartments in the container. The inside surface ofthe nipple sidewall carries a like number of projections evenly spacedabout the inside periphery thereof and adapted to engage correspondingL-shaped slots on the collar. To change the angular orientation of thenipple and collar, the nipple is counter-rotated to unlock and disengagethe projections from the slots. The nipple may then be rotated to a newrelative angular position relative to the collar, and locked relative tothe collar by causing the projections to engage the slots in the neworientation. Each time the relative angular orientation of the nipple ischanged relative to the collar, the aperture in the base portionregisters with a different vertical compartment, thereby allowing thefluid only in that compartment to be discharged through the nipple.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,143 describes multi-chamber containers with adispenser/doser portion that are blow molded as a single integral piece.Each chamber can then be fitted with dip tubes with a dip tube fitmentforming a seal in the transition of the container body to thedispenser/doser portion. The dividing webs in the container which formthe container into multiple chambers are continued up into and throughthe dispenser/doser portion. The webs of the container body are of athickness so that they flex upon a compression force being applied tothe container walls. This compression force flows liquid in each chamberof the container body up through the dip tubes and into thedispenser/doser portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,917 describes a mouthrinse product that comprises amulti-compartment bottle with liquids of different colors stored in thecompartments, the combined stream of the liquids dispensed from thebottle combining to form a liquid admixture of yet another color.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,828 describes a bottle closure cap for two-componentpackages that is formed with a collar extending form the bottom of acup-shaped cap which has a bottle screw-on thread on the inner wall ofthe cup. The collar connects via a thread which is directed opposite thebottle-screw-on-thread, to a beaker which can be brought overprojections seated on an outer side of its beaker cylindrical wall intoa non-rotatable but axially displaceable coupling engagement with theinner wall of the bottle neck. A front end of the collar comes intoform-locked engagement by an annular groove on the bottom of the beaker.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,577 describes a multichamber container with nocompressed gas therein comprises an outer container and an innercontainer for pourable substances which are to be kept separate. Thesubstances may be combined inside the container for the purpose ofextracting a mixture of substances. The inner container has an open endwhich is connected to an inner side of a cap with positive locking, in anon-rotatable and axially detachable manner, and has at least oneprojection on the outside wall. The outer container is connected to therotatable cap by means of a snap connection and has at least oneprojection on the inside wall. The projectins of both containers areformed in such a manner that they intercommunicate for combining thesubstances by rotation of the cap. The inner container is axiallydetachable form the cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,475 describes closure caps for binary packagingsystems comprising an active ingredient concentrate component and adilutent component, which allow the user to admix the two componentswithout coming in contact with either of them or with the resultingmixture.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,553 describes a packaged effervescent compositioncomprising a package having two compartments for storage of ingredientsof said effervescent composition from which the ingredients are adaptedto be dispensed simultaneously and proportionately for reaction witheach other, the first compartment containing a solution of aneffervescing producing reactant and the second compartment containing acomplementary solution of an effervescing releasing reactant suitablefor releasing the effervescence of the first compartment upon reactionwith the effervescing producing reactant.

Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taughtnor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a multiple chamber dispenser with adual position dispensing cap. The invention includes a dispensercontainer that may have any a shape and be made of any functionalmaterial, and has a corresponding cap.

The dispenser container has a circular top, a bottom, an outer wallstructure and a plurality of chambers within the outer wall structure.In one preferred embodiment, there are two separate chambers, and thedevice is used for two distinct flowable materials.

The dispenser container circular top has threading and has an upper stopand a lower stop located on an outside surface of the circular top. Theplurality of chambers are side-by-side. By this is meant that they areadjacent in a vertical plane, or are at least arranged so that they havetops or effluent ports that are side-by-side. These chambers areseparated by at least one divider wall that extents to the circular topof the dispense container.

A cap is connected to the dispensing container and has at least onedispensing orifice, centrally located in preferred embodiments. The caphas a side wall structure with threading on its inside that correspondsto the circular top threading, and the cap is capable of screwing ontothe. circular top past the upper stop so as to be non-removable from thedispensing container. The cap has a first position, being a lowerposition on the dispenser container, and also being a closed position,and has a second position, being a higher position on the dispensercontainer, and also being an open position for dispensing. The cap anddispenser container are cooperative, wherein when the cap is in thefirst position, the at least one dispensing orifice is closed so as toprevent content flow therethrough, and the plurality of chambers areisolated and sealed from one another and sealed from dispensing; and,wherein when the cap is in the second position, at least one dispensingorifice is open so as to permit content flow therethrough, and theplurality of chambers are not sealed from one another and are not sealedfrom dispensing. Thus, when the cap is rotated from the first positionto the second position, and the dispenser container is inverted, contentfrom each of the plurality of chambers may simultaneously be dispensedtherefrom and through the dispensing orifice(s).

In other embodiments, when the cap is in the second position, a top capwould prevent content flow through orifice. This would enable a user tomove the cap to its second position, shake the container for mixing thecontents of the chamber with one another, and then remove the top capfor dispensing.

In some embodiments, the present invention multiple chamber dispensercap first position is a position wherein the cap rests against the lowerstop, and the second position is a position wherein the cap restsagainst the upper stop. The upper stop and lower stop may beprotrusions, ridges, flanges, lips or any one mechanism that willprevent further screwing or unscrewing. In some embodiments, the lowerstop is a top surface of at least one of the circular top and of theplurality of chambers.

The present invention multiple chamber dispenser chambers may beintegrally formed with and made a permanent part of the dispensercontainer. Alternatively, the plurality of chambers may be cartridges orother independent members that are insertable into and removable fromthe dispenser container.

The dispenser container may have any shape, as long as the top iscircular so as to permit the threading and unthreading of the cap. Insome preferred embodiments, the dispenser container is a circular shapedcontainer, while in others, the dispenser container is non-circular inshape. The dispenser container may be made of any available material,and may be a rigid container or a squeeze dispenser container.

In some preferred embodiments, at least one dispensing, orifice islocated in a center area of the cap, and the plurality of chambers havea common area of connection in a center area, and the common area ofconnection includes sealing means to seal the at least one dispensingorifice when the cap is in its first position. However, if the downwardrotation of the orifice and the closing area of the chambers arearranged to coincide when the cap is in the closed position, both thedispensing orifice and the closing need not be centered.

The closing area that is contacted by the orifice, or its extension, maybe a flat or other corresponding sealing surface, e.g., at the top ofthe chambers, or may be a post that has a sealing top that fits againstthe orifice. In one preferred embodiment, at least one dispensingorifice is located in a center area of the cap, and wherein thedispensing container includes a center post located below at least onedispensing orifice and adapted to seal the orifice by being pressedagainst it when the cap is in its closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention should be more fully understood when thespecification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appendedhereto wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front, partially cut view of one embodiment of apresent invention multiple chamber dispenser;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment present invention dispenser,including the cap, in an exploded, partially cut side view, and FIG. 3shows a bottom view of the dispenser container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of four complementary chambers used in apresent invention dispenser container, and FIG. 5 shows these inside apresent invention container; and,

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate top and front views of two different presentinvention dispenser containers that a non-circular in shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a front, partially cut view of a present inventionmultiple chamber dispenser 1. It includes a container 3 and a cap 21.Container 3 has a bottom 5, a circular outer side wall 6, and an opencircular top 7. The bottom 5 has a central indentation 9 for holding thecontainer 3 in place while filling and while threading cap 21 ontocontainer 3. Inside the container are two chambers 13 and 17, that areremovable and insertable cartridge-like members for holding separate,distinct flowable materials. Their bottoms, 15 and 19, respectively,rest inside the container 3 so that their tops are aligned with the topedge of container 3.

Cap 21 includes a side wall 23 with inside threads 25 that correspond tothreads 10 on the outside of container 3. Cap top 27 has a nozzle 29with a dispensing orifice 33 and top cap 35, as shown. Here, cap 21 isin its first, closed position and the cap 21 cannot be screwed down anyfurther because the top of container 3 and the chamber tops actsimultaneously as a lower stop (first stop). This closed position forcap 21, as shown in FIG. 1, includes sealing by way of contact betweenthe closing area created by edges 20 and 22 of chambers 13 and 17,respectively, and the bottom of cap top 27 to isolate orifice 43 fromchambers 13 and 17, as shown.

When cap 21 is rotated, it will screw upwardly to separate the undersideof cap 21 from chamber edges 20 and 22 and, when inverted, will permitfluid flow from both chamber 13 and 17, simultaneously. Ledge 31 islocated below threads 10 on the outside of container 3 and at as anupper stop when cap 21 is unscrewed to its second position (openposition). Inwardly projecting cap ledge 30 rest against ledge 31 in thecap's second position.

Cap 21 and container 30 are manufactured separately and chambers 13 and71 are filled and inserted in to container 3, and then cap 21 is screweddown to force fit ledge 30 over ledge 31 to permanently attach cap 21 tocontainer 3. After cap 21 has been attached to container 3, its range ofmovement is restricted to those areas between and to the upper and lowerstops.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment present invention dispenser,including the container 51 and the cap 71, in an exploded, partially cutside view, and FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the dispenser container 51of FIG. 2. These two Figures are taken together:

Container 51 includes a outer side wall 53 and bottom 55, as well as anopen circular top 57, with outside threads 59. Inside container 51 aretwo chambers 81 and 83 that extend to the top 57 and are divided by post63. Post 63 is the closing area where the bottom 83 of nozzle 81 willcontact to seal dispensing orifices 85 and 87 and to isolate chambers 81and 83 from one another when cap 71 is closed.

Cap 71 has a top 73, side wall 75, inside threads 79, and stopping ridge77 that functions as does cap 21 described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of four complementary chambers 101, 103,105, and 107, that are used in a present invention dispenser container130 shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows these inside present inventioncontainer 130, and these two Figures are taken together. Chambers 101,103, 105 and 107 are semi-cylindrical quadrants that together complete acircle. They are filled and inserted into container 130, as shown. Outerwall 111 includes threading 113, with stops (not shown) to receive a capsimilar to those above. The underside of the cap would seal each chamberfrom all of the others when the cap is in the closed sealed firstposition.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate top and front views of two different presentinvention dispenser containers 140 and 160, respectively, that anon-circular in shape. Referring to FIG. 7, container 140 has arectangular top 151, and rectangular, rather than circular shape. It hasa front 141, that is flat, and has a circular top neck 143, with threads145. Inside the container 140 are chambers 147 and 149, and orificeclosing area post 153.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment present invention container 160,with an oval-shaped footprint and flat side walls such as side wall 161,and neck 163 with threads 165.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

1. A multiple chamber dispenser with dual position dispensing cap, whichcomprises: a.) a dispenser container having a circular top, a bottom, anouter wall structure and a plurality of chambers within said outer wallstructure, said dispenser container circular top having threading and anupper stop and a lower stop located on an outside surface of saidcircular top, said plurality of chambers being side-by-side and beingseparated by at least one divider wall that extents to said circular topof said dispense container, and, b.) a cap connected to said dispensingcontainer and having at least one dispensing orifice, said cap having aside wall structure with threading on its inside that corresponds tosaid circular top threading, said cap being capable of screwing ontosaid circular top past said upper stop so as to be non-removable fromsaid dispensing container, said cap having a fist position, being aposition lower on the dispenser container and also being a closedposition, and having a second position, being a position higher on thedispenser container and also being an open position for dispensing;wherein when said cap is in said first position, said at least onedispensing orifice is closed so as to prevent content flow therethrough,and said plurality of chambers are isolated and sealed from one anotherand sealed from dispensing; and, wherein when said cap is in said secondposition, said at least one dispensing orifice is open so as to permitcontent flow therethrough, and said plurality of chambers are not sealedfrom one another and are not sealed from dispensing; and, wherein, whensaid cap is rotated from said first position to said second position,and said dispenser container is inverted, content from each of saidplurality of chambers may simultaneously be dispensed therefrom andthrough said at least one dispensing orifice.
 2. The multiple chamberdispenser with dual position dispensing cap of claim 1 wherein saidfirst position is a position wherein said cap rests against said lowerstop, and said second position is a position wherein said cap restsagainst said upper stop.
 3. The multiple chamber dispenser with dualposition dispensing cap of claim 2 wherein said lower stop is a topsurface of at least one of said circular top and of said plurality ofchambers.
 4. The multiple chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said plurality of chambers areintegrally formed with and are a permanent part of said dispensercontainer.
 5. The multiple chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said plurality of chambers arecartridges that are insertable into and removable from said dispensercontainer.
 6. The multiple chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said dispenser container is a circularshaped container.
 7. The multiple chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said dispenser container isnon-circular in shape.
 8. The multiple chamber dispenser with dualposition dispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said dispenser container is asqueeze dispenser container.
 9. The multiple chamber dispenser with dualposition dispensing cap of claim 1 wherein said at least one dispensingorifice is located in a center area of said cap, and said plurality ofchambers have a common area of connection in a center area, and saidcommon area of connection includes sealing means to seal said at leastone dispensing orifice when said cap is in its first position.
 10. Themultiple chamber dispenser with dual position dispensing cap of claim 1wherein said at least one dispensing orifice is located in a center areaof said cap, and wherein said dispensing container includes a centerpost located below said at least one dispensing orifice and adapted toseal said orifice by being pressed against it when said cap is in itsclosed position.
 11. A dual chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap, which comprises: a.) a dispenser container having acircular top, a bottom, an outer wall structure and two chambers withinsaid outer wall structure, said dispenser container circular top havingthreading and an upper stop and a lower stop located on an outsidesurface of said circular top, said two chambers being side-by-side andbeing separated by at least one divider wall that extents to saidcircular top of said dispense container, and, b.) a cap connected tosaid dispensing container and having at least one dispensing orifice,said cap having a side wall structure with threading on its inside thatcorresponds to said circular top threading, said cap being capable ofscrewing onto said circular top past said upper stop so as to benon-removable from said dispensing container, said cap having a fistposition, being a lower position on the dispenser container, and alsobeing a closed position, and having a second position, being a higherposition on the dispenser container, and also being an open position fordispensing; wherein when said cap is in said first position, said atleast one dispensing orifice is closed so as to prevent content flowtherethrough, and said two chambers are isolated and sealed from oneanother and sealed from dispensing; and, wherein when said cap is insaid second position, said at least one dispensing orifice is open so asto permit content flow therethrough, and said plurality of chambers arenot sealed from one another and are not sealed from dispensing; and,wherein, when said cap is rotated from said first position to saidsecond position, and said dispenser container is inverted, content fromeach of said two chambers may simultaneously be dispensed therefrom andthrough said at least one dispensing orifice.
 12. The dual chamberdispenser with dual position dispensing cap of claim 11 wherein saidfirst position is a position wherein said cap rests against said lowerstop, and said second position is a position wherein said cap restsagainst said upper stop.
 13. The dual chamber dispenser with dualposition dispensing cap of claim 12 wherein said lower stop is a topsurface of at least one of said circular top and of said plurality ofchambers.
 14. The dual chamber dispenser with dual position dispensingcap of claim 11 wherein said plurality of chambers are integrally formedwith and are a permanent part of said dispenser container.
 15. The dualchamber dispenser with dual position dispensing cap of claim 11 whereinsaid plurality of chambers are cartridges that are insertable into andremovable from said dispenser container.
 16. The dual chamber dispenserwith dual position dispensing cap of claim 11 wherein said dispensercontainer is a circular shaped container.
 17. The dual chamber dispenserwith dual position dispensing cap of claim 11 wherein said dispensercontainer is non-circular in shape.
 18. The dual chamber dispenser withdual position dispensing cap of claim 11 wherein said dispensercontainer is a squeeze dispenser container.
 19. The dual chamberdispenser with dual position dispensing cap of claim 11 wherein said atleast one dispensing orifice is located in a center area of said cap,and said plurality of chambers have a common area of connection in acenter area, and said common area of connection includes sealing meansto seal said at least one dispensing orifice when said cap is in itsfirst position.
 20. The dual chamber dispenser with dual positiondispensing cap of claim 11 wherein said at least one dispensing orificeis located in a center area of said cap, and wherein said dispensingcontainer includes a center post located below said at least onedispensing orifice and adapted to seal said orifice by being pressedagainst it when said cap is in its closed position.